Creating a simple morning routine has been a game changer in my health journey. I used to wake up and instantly grab my phone to check emails and social media. After scrolling on IG aimlessly, I'd drag myself out of the bed feeling anxious and already left behind in life. And, if we met 4 years ago, I'd swear that I am not a morning person.

Now I naturally wake up at 6:30am before my alarm every morning and look forward to my mornings. I love having a healthy routine that sets the tone for the day to maximize my productivity, happiness and wellbeing. How we start our day pretty much determines how the rest of the day goes, in my opinion. So, it's incredibly helpful to have a simple schedule and stick with it.

My Realistic Morning Routine

Since I'm working for myself, my schedule changes every week. My mornings may look different on some days. On an ideal morning:

The reality is my mornings are far from perfect. But, if I can do 3-4 of these things, I'm a happy girl! Do you have any daily habits that you try to do every single day? Would love to hear it in the comment below. :)
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5 Tips for a Healthy, Happy and Productive Morning

1. Go to bed before 10pm and wake up with the sun.Happy mornings start with a rested mind and body. So, the first step is to go to bed early and get at least 7 to 8 hours of sleep every night. If you get good quality sleep, you will wake up energized and ready to start the day. I try to close my laptop and put my phone away no later than 8pm. Most nights, I’d be asleep by 10pm after reading a good book.

2. Warm lemon water + probiotics to hydrate.Starting the day with water and taking probiotics has endless benefits, especially for the digestive and immune system. We all know this, but are you applying it everyday? Make it a habit to drink water first thing in the morning even before checking your phone. When you wake up just head to kitchen and boil some water. Here's how I prepare mine: squeeze half a lemon's juice in a glass and fill it half way with hot water + half with filtered water.

TIP: Take your probiotics with your water, so you never forget to take them. #ad I have been using and loving Seed's Daily Female Synbiotic(prebiotics + probiotics in one) and would highly recommend them as their product is the highest quality I've found and they're backed by real science! The formulation is vegan and gluten-free, and includes 24 clinically-studied, naturally-occurring strains, not found in yogurt or fermented foods and beverages, and lives up to the highest standards for human and planetary health. Plus, I LOVE that they're also committed to sustainability with a refIll system and all recyclable or biodegradable packaging materials. (Code HANDE15 gets you 15% off if you want to try them.) You can check them out here: seed.com

3. Daily mindful movement at home.
I used to dread exercise so much. It was a chore, but now I genuinely love and look forward to my workouts at home. You can also go on a walk outside or take a class with your bestie. I love going to a Reformer Pilates or a Vinyasa yoga class once a week.

4. Simple & nourishing breakfast. I live for breakfast lol. My favorite breakfast is usually an avocado toast or oatmeal with fresh berries with 2-3 cups of jasmine green tea. We also love making pancakes with my husbandon Sunday mornings. That's the only time I have coffee instead of green tea in the mornings.

5. Meditation, Gratitude + Goals for the day.If I can meditate for 10 minutes in the morning, then it’s a really productive and happy day! Honestly, meditation is the favorite part of my morning routine. I always loved the idea of writing a gratitude list but didn't know how to get started and make it a habit. I'm so happy now it's a part of my morning routine. Here is how to do it. ​It only takes 5 minute and makes a super positive difference to my day.

​Morning Journal: Every morning, write down these three things:
​1. What am I grateful for? (my warm bed, my health, sunshine outside)2. What would make today great? ( eating more mindfully, being kind to myself)3. Daily affirmations. I am... ( confident, kind and full of love and gratitude)

Creating Your Own Routine + Free Downloadable

I created this simple planner for you to download if you'd like to create your own morning routine. You'll see some of my suggestions and can add your own healthy morning habits and goals.

Once you enter your information below, you'll receive a confirmation email in your inbox. (Make sure to check your spam box too, just in case.) Once you confirm, you'll see the PDF file on your screen, which you can save to your device and print.

Tag me in your #healthymorning posts on Instagram, so I can see you! :)